Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh ماندارين اورينتال الفيصلية، الرياض — Hotel in Municipality of Olaya

This was my first time visiting this Spa, and overall, it was a calming & pleasant experience , but I do see room for improvement;

From the moment I arrived, the reception ladies were incredibly kind, respectful, & professional. Their warmth honestly set the tone for the whole visit.

The spa itself is quiet and cozy, The vibe is nice, but the decor felt a bit outdated. I think with some refreshed colors and modern touches, the atmosphere could feel much more luxurious & in line with current wellness trends.

The jacuzzi had a very strong chlorine smell, which I found quite uncomfortable. I didn’t try the pool, but everyone in it seemed to be enjoying themselves, which says something good.

I really loved the look and design of the heated chairs , very sleek & elegant , but unfortunately, the heat wasn’t strong enough to actually relax the muscles.

The Moroccan bath was kept simple, & the therapist “Tari “ was good. She was gentle, professional, & always made sure I felt comfortable & at ease.

The steam room was decent, but I was disappointed that there was no actual ice room , just a spot with crushed ice after the steam session which is fine, but for me, a proper ice room is a must in any high-end spa experience.

I also had a massage in a clean, well-prepared room, but I couldn’t get past the red & white striped curtains , visually harsh & not relaxing at all. I requested three extra services with the massage, but sadly, none felt worth the upgrade. One eye treatment even caused irritation because the serum got into my eyes, which shouldn’t happen.

To end the visit, I relaxed in the I think called the “relaxing lounge” (not sure about the name) anyway, It was peaceful, the snack was light & just right after the treatments , though the floor creaked with every step, which took away from the calm vibe a bit

‏In short: The experience was definitely soothing, & I appreciated the kindness of the team. This spa is already a wonderful place to unwind, & with a few thoughtful updates , like adding a proper sauna and ice room, refreshing the decor, & fine-tuning some service details , it could become truly exceptional.

‏and yes, I’ll definitely come back...

The check-in experience is so disappointing, starting from the moment I arrived at the first building (Suite) entrance asking if this is the right building, as there're two receptions in two different buildings. After being directed to the wrong building by the concierge, I queued for around 10 minutes, until the receptionist redirected me back again to first building! where the suites are. The receptionist first offered me a ride in a golf cart, however, when I walked with him to the entrance he pointed his finger to other building, as he was too lazy to look for the golf cart (as promised earlier!). You can imagine that I was walking under the 48 degree, to reach the other building. What makes it really worse that I was told later that I can reach the other building through an indoor aisle between the buildings! The funny thing the receptionist didn’t bother to tell me that, he walked me to the entrance as if he was going to take me by a golf cart, then without any hesitation, asked me to go under the sun to other building through the parking lots!

After checking-in in the right building, the way from the reception to my suite was very disturbing, I was following the porter who carried our luggages through a restaurant then a cafe, passing between the tables (very embarrassing, full of customers) until we reached the elevator! I asked for a good view, the receptionist said “no worries, in-sha-Allah”, I was shocked that the view was a roof and a back of the next building. We're there for our 10th anniversary, I mentioned that to the receptionist, which I think he also didn’t care. Our first night 10 years ago was amazing, it was under Rose Wood management, they cared about the tiny details.

I promised myself while checking in, not to be picky at all and not to complain, I didn’t want to ruin my stay, it was a special day and that’s all what matters at that time, however, they mistake my calmness for acceptance. The check out is another story for...

There are hotel stays that check all the boxes—comfort, elegance, service—and then there are rare experiences that linger in your memory long after check-out. Our stay at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh was one of the latter. And the reason wasn’t just the hotel’s opulence or reputation. It was a person: Sultan Sharahili.||Sultan Sharahili, a receptionist at the property, is not just excellent at what he does—he redefines what it means to feel welcomed. The moment we arrived, he greeted us not with robotic politeness, but with genuine warmth, care, and hospitality that felt deeply personal. Riyadh is a city of grandeur, but Sultan was its beating heart in that moment. Calm, gracious, and intuitive, he immediately made us feel like we belonged—not just at the hotel, but in the city itself.||Thanks to his attention to detail and impeccable sense of guest care, our stay was thoughtfully elevated in a way that reflected both his discretion and the hotel’s outstanding commitment to hospitality. It wasn’t just about the room—it was about making us feel seen and valued. And that’s exactly what Sultan did, seamlessly and professionally.||Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah is, of course, a world-class hotel—every detail exquisitely curated, every service polished to perfection. But even among such luxury, Sultan stood out. He reminded us that a beautiful room is only part of the story; it’s the human touch that elevates everything. And his presence at the front desk was that human touch in its finest form.||To the management: you don’t just have a five-star hotel—you have five-star people. And Sultan Sharahili is one of the brightest among them.||To future guests: yes, enjoy the marble, the skyline views, the cuisine—but take a moment to notice the kindness, too. If you’re fortunate enough to be welcomed by Sultan, your stay will become something...